Max Kepler DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Max Kepler went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Diamondbacks. The home run was his fifth of the year, with four of them coming in his last seven games (and three in his last four), and now riding a mini four-game hit streak. After spending his entire career in Minnesota, the 32-year-old is having somewhat of a renaissance in Philadelphia, as he's now on pace for more than 15 home runs, which would easilysurpass the eight that he hit last season. The left-handed slugger owns an 11.9 percent barrel rate and 52.4 percent hard-hit rate, so expect the power output to continue. In a platoon role, the 6-foot-4 slugger may be a bit frustrating in season-long fantasy, but is a viable DFS play, especially while he's hitting so well.

Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott and outfielder Max Kepler are not in the starting lineup on Sunday when they face St. Louis southpaw Matthew Liberatore. Stott has only made three starts against southpaws throughout the early part of the campaign. Over his previous four contests, Stott has posted a .250/.333/.313 line. Fantasy managers should expect the 27-year-old Stott to return to the starting nine on Monday when he faces San Francisco right-hander Landen Roupp. Kepler has only made two starts this season against left-handed pitching. As a result, Edmundo Sosa will cover the keystone, and Johan Rojas will take a spot in the outfield. The Phillies' offense is worth targeting in DFS this afternoon, facing Liberatore, who enters Sunday with a hefty 5.84 ERA.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Max Kepler (back) is starting in left field and batting third in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber. Kepler was removed from Sunday's spring training game due to a back injury after he crashed into the outfield wall, but he'll only end up missing one day. It means that the 32-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder will be ready to go for Opening Day next Thursday, March 27, versus the division-rival Washington Nationals on the road in D.C. In theory, Kepler should be more attractive as a depth outfielder in deep-mixed fantasy leagues in 2025 with the move to a more potent lineup in Philly, and he'll enter the season as the club's primary left fielder on the strong side of a platoon against right-handed pitchers. However, the German native is an injury risk and has played in over 150 games just once in 10 big-league seasons.